[foundation-board] Separation of concerns

Tue Jun 21 20:49:59 UTC 2011

Though we'll have a lot to get through at the moment, it seems like the 
next board meeting would be an opportune time to discuss separating the 
concerns of the Foundation - on the one hand the surplus-returning 
consultancy and custom development business - on the other the community 
of projects and working groups, the volunteer efforts.

http://wiki.okfn.org/suggestions/Activity_Split - a very tiny stub page 
that may not even have any words in it yet...

Cost/benefit analysis seems necessary here - maybe a formal checklist 
process would help? Doodles while travelling:

PROs - of splitting -                 of not splitting

Transparency (what goes where)        ???
Hopes to make management easier
Hopes for boost to volunteer activity

CONs - of splitting -                 of not splitting

Time-consuming                           Risk of reputation loss
Risk of community dissatisfaction        ditto
Risk of bogging down in governance chat  Need for more oversight